It's probably because a lot of the people that like tea like it for its distinctive "tea" taste; herbals just don't have that.

I like some herbals, but not because it's like drinking tea. It's a completely different experience. Blending them with real tea is good, too. One of my favorite teas is a blend of Darjeeling (my fav anyway) with raspberry and vanilla rooibos. Oh yum.

I think people don't like herbals for the same reason that people who enjoy greens and whites don't like blacks. It is because they have not tried them yet and are therefore scared to change from the norm to try something different.

I know I have done this before. I mostly drink green, and going to oolong or black or even some herbals is difficult for me because I have grown so fond of my greens.

I haven't tried too many herbals so I definitely want to sample some of the fruity ones.

But one of my favorite drinks (since I can't really call it tea) remains Chamomile with a little sugar. It's just pure perfection. The chamomile is so sweet on it's own and the sugar brings out those flavors a little more.

So I can't say I don't like herbals.... I just haven't tried very many.

I enjoy herbals. They taste divine and I like the health benefits. I also like honey and herbals seem to be a better medium for it than say "real tea". I don't think they're unpopular so much. Maybe it's just that tea purists have trouble w/ calling herbals "tea".

The herbals are my absolute favorites! The flavors are wonderful, especially the fruit ones, and the absence of caffeine is a total plus. Years ago I discovered that when you cut out the caffeine, the munchies pretty much disappear too.

While they are often closely associated with tea, they are not tea (as discussed above). The increasingly common use of the word tea to mean either herbals or camelia sinensis is based that both are essentially leaves infused in hot water. But please understand that they are not the same. (How use chose to use the word is invariably up to you, and with no judgement here)

While many people are familiar with peppermint, chamomile and hibiscus, there is a whole world of natural flowers, roots and leaves that make for nourishing and comforting brews. Go beyond the basics and try something new - you might like it!

But asking a tea board about herbals is akin to asking an apple farmer about oranges....

On one hand, I think herbal teas are unpopular due to the stigma it has received in popular culture. It is often associated with "yuppie" culture, and in general, is so often connected with femininity which, of course, turns away a male consumer audience.

On the other, people, especially many tea drinkers, forget that camellia sinensis /is/ an herb by virtue of its botanical classification.

I happen to like tisanes, especially spearmint and chamomile. When I was ill, my grandmother would give me an infusion of sassafras mixed with wintergreen. Though, in my opinion, there's a time and place for them, in every season.